A timeline of the celebrated Oregon Zoo train

The Oregon Zoo train’s Washington Parkloop would be the most intricate and extensive recreation railroad ever constructed in our country, according to a 1959 pledge made by U.S. Senator Richard L. Neuberger of Oregon. Advocates are now working to bring back those heydays.

A glance back at the historic railway is provided here:

1958: In its first summer of service, the Zoolinerin carried over 200,000 people on zoo property.

1960: According to an article in Sunset magazine at the time, the Zooline extended its route on the new, winding, wooded, three-mile round trip through Washington Park.

2013: As the zoo built new elephant exhibits, the Washington Park route and the small zoo-grounds train loop were shut down.

2014: The Rose Garden ride was still closed, however the short loop was reopened.

2018: A paved trail was suggested as a replacement for the railroad in an updated master plan for Washington Park. In an effort to restore the longer line, the organization Friends of Washington Park and Zoo Railway was established.

2025: To propose reopening the entire railway, a task team of area NGOs, zoo executives, and municipal and Metro authorities met.